Analysis of Spatial Offensive Performance in Handball: Differences between Men's and Women's Senior World Championships.

The aim of this study was to carry out a descriptive analysis of the main performance variables of national teams that competed in the Men's (Germany-Denmark 2019) and Women's (Germany 2017) senior handball World Cups, and to compare the spatial offensive performance indices of laterality and depth according to the gender of players, considering for this purpose the total number of throws made according to the finishing area. A documentary study was carried out based on the total number of throws made in 192 male and 154 female games of 48 national teams belonging to 33 countries, which participated in previous World Cups. The data were collected from the International Handball Federation (IHF) statistics. The results showed that the areas from which the highest number of shots were taken in both World Cups were the central and shallow areas of the field. Several gender differences were observed. More specifically, male teams made much more attempts from the left side area than female teams (data), who finished from the right side (data). The depth index reflected that, although the dominant execution by gender was from deep offensive zones, men's teams finished more often from the 1st offensive line, while female teams finished from the 2nd offensive line. This information will be useful for coaches in designing training tasks and for players in improving decision making.

Development and Validation of an Observational Game Analysis Tool with Artificial Intelligence for Handball: Handball.ai.

Performance analysis based on artificial intelligence together with game-related statistical models aims to provide relevant information before, during and after a competition. Due to the evaluation of handball performance focusing mainly on the result and not on the analysis of the dynamics of the game pace through artificial intelligence, the aim of this study was to design and validate a specific handball instrument based on real-time observational methodology capable of identifying, quantifying, classifying and relating individual and collective tactical behaviours during the game. First, an instrument validation by an expert panel was performed. Ten experts answered a questionnaire regarding the relevance and appropriateness of each variable presented. Subsequently, data were validated by two observers (1.5 and 2 years of handball observational analysis experience) recruited to analyse a Champions League match. Instrument validity showed a high accordance degree among experts (Cohen's kappa index (k) = 0.889). For both automatic and manual variables, a very good intra- ((automatic: Cronbach's alpha (α) = 0.984; intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) = 0.970; k = 0.917) (manual: α = 0.959; ICC = 0.923; k = 0.858)) and inter-observer ((automatic: α = 0.976; ICC = 0.961; k = 0.874) (manual: α = 0.959; ICC = 0.923; k = 0.831) consistency and reliability was found. These results show a high degree of instrument validity, reliability and accuracy providing handball coaches, analysts, and researchers a novel tool to improve handball performance.

The Influence of Sprint Mechanical Properties on Change of Direction in Female Futsal Players.

The aim of the present study was to analyze the association of the sprint force-velocity profile [Hzt FV profile] variables with change of direction [COD] performance in female futsal players. Twelve female futsal players (age: 19.83 ± 4.2 years; body height: 160.75 ± 8.37 cm; body mass: 57.64 ± 8.3 kg) volunteered to be evaluated in the following assessments: Hzt FV profile, 505 test, modified 505 test [M505test] and V-cut test. The Spearman's correlation coefficient [rs] (p < 0.05) was used to determine the relationship of the mechanical variables of the sprint (maximum power output [Pmax], maximum horizontal force production [F0] and maximum velocity [V0]) with COD performance. V0 showed a very large significant association with the 505 test (rs = -0.767; 90% CI: (-0.92 to -0.43); p < 0.01) and a large association with the V-cut test (rs = -0.641; 90% CI: (-0.86 to -0.21); p < 0.05), whereas Pmax was strongly associated with results of the 505 test (rs = -0.821; 90% CI: (-0.94 to -0.55); p < 0.01) and largely associated with the V-cut test results (rs = -0.596; 90% CI: (-0.84 to -0.14); p < 0.05). In conclusion, maximal power and velocity output during sprinting are determinant factors to successful COD in 180º and 45º cuts, thus, the Hzt FV profile should be assessed in female futsal players to better understand the influence of sprint mechanical properties on COD performance and prescribe individualized training programs.

Actividad física, composición corporal y capacidad músculo-esquelética en adolescentes escolarizados de Floridablanca, Colombia / Physical activity, body composition and musculoskeletal capacity of teenage students from Floridablanca, Colombia

Introducción: La inactividad física es un factor de riesgo comportamental asociado a enfermedades crónicas no transmisibles. La composición corporal y la capacidad músculo-esquelética son componentes de la aptitud física orientada a la salud. Objetivo: Determinar la correlación entre la composición corporal y la capacidad músculo-esquelética de la población de estudio. Métodos: Estudio correlacional realizado en 102 estudiantes adolescentes. Las variables se analizaron en medidas de tendencia central o frecuencias según su naturaleza. Se utilizó la prueba T de Student y exacta de Fischer para establecer diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre las variables continúas y categóricas respectivamente. Se calculó coeficiente de Pearson para establecer una posible correlación en las variables de interés. El nivel de significancia fue de p ≤ 0,05. Resultados: El 76,47 por ciento de los participantes no cumple con las recomendaciones de actividad física para la salud. El 16,66 por ciento de los estudiantes presentan sobrepeso/obesidad y el 26,47 por ciento presenta un porcentaje de grasa en riesgo para la salud. El 48,08 por ciento de los adolescentes presentan niveles de fuerza resistencia saludables. Se determinó una correlación negativa entre el porcentaje de grasa y la fuerza explosiva del tren inferior (p = 0,0000), y la fuerza resistencia del tren superior (p = 0,0000) Conclusiones: La mayoría de los estudiantes son físicamente inactivos, un poco más de la cuarta parte y la mitad de la población de estudio presenta un porcentaje de grasa y niveles de fuerza resistencia del tren superior poco saludables. Se estableció una correlación negativa entre el porcentaje de grasa y los niveles de fuerza de los participantes(AU)

Introduction: Physical inactivity is a behavioral risk factor for chronic non-communicable diseases. Body composition and musculoskeletal capacity are component parts of a health-oriented physical condition. Objective: Determine the correlation between body composition and musculoskeletal capacity in the study population. Methods: A correlational study was conducted of 102 teenage students. Variables were analyzed as measures of central tendency or frequencies, depending on their nature. Student's t-test and Fischer's exact test were used to establish statistically significant differences between continuous and categorical variables, respectively. Pearson's coefficient was estimated to establish a possible correlation in the variables of interest. The significance level was p ≤ 0.05. Results: Of the total participants 76.47 percent do not comply with the recommendations about physical activity for health. 16.66 percent of the students are overweight / obese and 26.47 percent have a health-risky fat percentage. 48.08 percent of the teenagers display healthy resistance strength levels. A negative correlation was determined between fat percentage and explosive strength of the lower body (p = 0.0000) and resistance strength of the upper body (p = 0.0000). Conclusions: Most of the students are physically inactive. A bit over one fourth and half the study population have unhealthy fat percentages and upper body resistance strength levels. A negative correlation was established between the fat percentage and the strength levels of participants(AU)

Effects of two drop-jump protocols with different volumes on vertical jump performance and its association with the force-velocity profile.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the changes in countermovement jump (CMJ) height after two drop-jump (DJ) protocols with different volumes, and to explore the possibility of predicting the changes in CMJ height based on the vertical force-velocity (F-v) profile. METHOD: Thirty-four male athletes (age: 21.9 ± 2.0 years) were tested on three occasions. The F-v profile during the CMJ exercise was determined in the first session. Two DJ protocols (low-volume [1 set of 5 DJ trials from a 30 cm height] and high-volume [3 sets of 5 DJ trials from a 30 cm height]) were randomly performed during the second and third sessions, and the unloaded CMJ height was evaluated before (Pre), 4 min (Post4), 8 min (Post8), and 12 min (Post12) after the DJ protocol. RESULTS: CMJ height was significantly higher at Post4 (2.5 cm [95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.0-3.0 cm]; ES = 0.35), Post8 (2.1 cm [95% CI = 1.4-2.8 cm]; ES = 0.29) and Post12 (2.2 cm [95% CI = 1.4-3.0 cm]; ES = 0.30) compared to Pre. The only significant interaction (protocol × time) was caused by a higher increment in CMJ height at Post4 for the low-volume (8.1 ± 3.7%) compared to the high-volume (5.8 ± 3.9%) protocol. The F-v profile did not explain a significant part of the change in CMJ height (variance explained < 10%). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that low-volume DJ protocols could be more efficient to acutely increase CMJ performance, while the change in CMJ height was not affected by the F-v profile.